Candy Cane Bathsalts
I like to add epsom salts to my bath. It’s very relaxing and apparently the magnesium is absorbed through the skin while you soak. This is good for me as I seem to be lacking in magnesium and I’m terrible at remembering to take supplements. There is quite a bit of information available online spouting the benefits of epsom salts.
Earlier this year I bought a large bag of epsom salts from a horse supply place. It’s much cheaper to buy there than in the supermarkets. Given my mum is allergic to almost all perfumed bath salts, I decided it would be nice to make her up her own bath salts with just a bit of colouring and no scent. We’re also doing small gifts for DH’s siblings and their partners this year so I thought something homemade like this might fit the bill for the females.
There has been quite a bit of talk on the Simple Savings* forum about homemade Christmas gifts. One of the ideas that has been discussed is that of making Candy Cane bathsalts. It sounded to me like a great concept for Christmas Gifts. There are quite a number of recipes available on the internet.
I kept my “recipe” fairly simple with the main ingredient being epsom salts. I also added some bicarbonate soda as that is supposed to help soften the skin. The red has been coloured with food colouring and while most recipes say to add Peppermint Essential Oil, I just used Peppermint Essence as that’s what I had.
I made Glass Deco images to add to the jars and the tag I found at Organized Christmas . You can also find a recipe there if you prefer not to just “wing it” like I did. 
Here is a photo of the finished products.
* If you’re interested in the Simple Savings forum, here is a link. You do need to be a paid member in order to access the forum but they also provide a FREE newsletter with lots of savings tips in them. 
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Oh these look awesome! I didn’t know that an epsom salts bath was good for me.. yet another reason to celebrate rain with a nice long bath! Oh I think I am going to really enjoy your blog…. off to read some more!
wow!!! They look FANTASTIC!!
Thats quite funny actually - you posting that. I was clearing out our spare room today and found my epsom salts that I bought to do something similar with so now I can! lol
The builders come to start fixing my kithen tomorrow. Hopefully **fingers crossed** I’ll have an oven again by the end of the week to make some shortbread too.
What a FANTASTIC idea.
Congratulations to you for winning a copy of my book in the All for Women 12 days of giveaways.
I’ve stumbled you for a bit more Christmas cheer.
That is so neato and it looks really professional! I think I’ll try that next year for the females in the family.
Nice job,looks beautiful!
These are spectacular!! Well done. I especially love the Art Deco on the glass jars. Your family will love them.
Katef - thanks for your comment. I hope you enjoy looking around.
You can’t beat a nice long bath as a way to relax. We’re all on rainwater here so I’m a bit limited depending on how much rain there has been. Sounds like you’ve had some wherever you are which is great. It’s still pretty dry here.
Bettina - glad to be of service.
Hope the kitchen work goes smoothly.
Megan - thanks for donating the book as a prize. Can’t wait to read it. I will post about it when it arrives.
Thanks very much for the stumble. That’s something I need to learn a bit more about.
Cat - yeah, I was really surprised how they turned out. I think the Glass Deco finished them off quite nicely and it was just fluke really that I had that on hand (and thought to use it lol).
Hi Sal - thank you and thank you for taking the time to comment.
Beth - thanks. Lets hope so. Not everyone appreciates homemade (equating it with being cheap). Hopefully things are swinging back around to a little bit more appreciation for homemade gifts.
I LOVE the bottled bath salts. I too wish people would love to receive handmade and not equate it to being “cheap”
I haven’t used bath salts in yonks. We’re shower people. Your candy stripe bottles look lovely.
Wow! They look amazing. You can’t even find something that gorgeous looking in stores these days.
Ali - I guess we plow on and hope to change attitudes a little a time?????
River - we’re generally shower people but I do like a bath to pamper myself occasionally (water permitting). My mum ONLY has a bath at the moment (doing the old fashioned, boil the water etc as they have no hot water system right now).
Riayn - thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comments.
They are so cool! What a great idea, and they look so wonderful. I wish I was as crafty!
rool professional like. You are amazing! Just like a bought one.
Leigh - thanks for dropping by and your comment.
They really are easy to do. Honest!!!! 
Kelley - LOL. Thanks.
Brilliant!! I went and bought some oils to scent my epsom salts with and realised that my Lou probably hasn’t done anything about presents for her granma or aunties. That’s something I can make with her on Christmas eve that is simple and easy. Thanks for the inspiration!
They are so very pretty. Great job. I will have to file that idea away to use next year.
I was thinking of doing meal in a jar gifts for my in-laws again this year (last year I put all the dry ingredients needed for vanilla rice pudding into jars with a little recipe card). But I found when visiting one of the inlaws recently that it was still sitting in the cupboard unused.
So instead they are getting little home made picture frames (with a photo inside) from my girls.
I made those last year (I think it was) for my mum & a few other female relatives - mine didn’t look nearly as good as yours though!!!
Marita - that’s interesting. I was tossing up about doing a “cookies in a jar” to go with these in my SIL’s gift bags or simply to make up some yummy goodies. Perhaps I should just do a jar of made up goodies. They’re not really all that “into” baking. Photo’s always go down well. I’m not organised enough this year.
Kez - did they enjoy them?
Very Nice presentation. Good job.
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